Protein free formula

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to the use of composition comprising free amino acids as a sole source of protein, a fatty acid source comprising long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, a carbohydrate source comprising digestible and indigestible carbohydrates, and milk protein free Bifidobacteria for treating a person suffering from
         (a) colic, congestion, runny nose, wheezing, vomiting, diarrhoea, bloody stools, mucus in stools, rash, eczema, gastroesophageal reflux, eosinophilic esophagitis or asthma;   (b) cow&#39;s milk allergy and/or food protein intolerance; and/or   (c) infections,
 
wherein the indigestible carbohydrate is selected from a milk protein free source and the total composition is essentially free of intact proteins.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/666,845filed Dec. 28, 2009 (pending), which is a 371 application based oninternational PCT/GB2007/002520 filed Jul. 5, 2007, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/821,461 filed Aug.4, 2006 (expired). The entire contents of each of these referencedapplications is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the stimulation of health in infantsreceiving an amino acid based formula.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred situation, infants are breastfed by the mother. However,often in infants, after an initial period of being breast fed,breastfeeding is stopped and the infant diet comprises mainly infantmilk formula.

However in a small group of infants breastfeeding or the feeding ofconventional infant formula results in adverse reactions, such as painand allergic reaction. People suffering from an allergy may havedifficulties in digesting or metabolizing some food constituents, whichthen lead to gastro-intestinal and systemic allergic reactions. Theallergic reactions are mainly directed to the protein fraction in thefood. A significant change in the diet is often necessary to reduceadverse events.

To prevent allergic reactions to protein, the infant food consists ofhydrolysed milk proteins, amino acids or non-milk proteins e.g. soyproteins and other nutritional components which do not cause allergicreactions.

A known infant nutrition comprising amino acids as the nitrogen sourceis Neocate™ for use in patients suffering from allergy,gastro-intestinal complaints, eczema, malabsorption or maldigestion.

In the prior art the number of different sources of nutrients is oftenkept low to prevent introducing allergens in the formula by the additionof these ingredients. However, this has the disadvantage that infantalso do not benefit from the beneficial effects of such additionalingredients.

WO2005039319 discloses the use of synbiotics in infant formula includingprotein in hydrolysate form, thereby reducing the risk of allergy (page11, line 35-37)

WO2006091103 discloses a nutritional composition comprising synbioticsfor the treatment and prevention of immune disorders including allergy.The use of protein hydrolysate and/or free amino acids for reducing therisk of allergy is disclosed.

It is the aim of the present invention to improve the dietary formulasfor this vulnerable patient group by providing additional nutritionalbenefits without introducing allergens in the composition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have recognized that in an elemental formulacontaining a variety of free amino acids without intact protein, it ishighly unpredictable how the intestinal flora develops. Instead of thebifidobacteria and lactobacilli dominant flora in normal infantsreceiving breast milk, many other bacterial species, includingpotentially pathogenic species, may prevail in the intestine of infantsreceiving amino acid based foods.

The development of a healthy intestinal flora is particularly importantin all infants, as these infants often already suffer from an impairedimmunological function, resulting in colic, congestion, runny nose,wheezing, vomiting, diarrhoea, bloody stools, mucus in stools, rash, oreczema.

The present inventors have recognized that the healthy flora developmentis of very high importance in infants receiving a diet containing mainlyfree amino acid as a protein source. Without being bound by theory, theinventors recognized that a good flora, i.e. a flora rich inBifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, is especially beneficial for thematuration of the (mucosal) immune system. A good flora prevents thedevelopment of allergies or at least reduces the severity of theallergies in such infants. Hence the present inventors recognized thecriticality of a beneficial flora development in these infants.

In spite of the limitations in formulation of the dietary formula forsuch vulnerable infants, the present inventors found that a specificselection of dietary oligosaccharides, preferably fructans and/or pectindegradation products can be beneficially added to the elemental formulato stimulate the flora development without causing any allergic sideeffects.

No milk derived products can be used in this elemental formula, sincethis might lead to the addition of milk allergens to the product.Therefore the prebiotic fibres according to this invention are carefullyselected from the known prebiotic fibres in order to prevent theaddition of milk or other intact and potential allergenic proteins thatare present in the fibres to the non-allergic composition.

The inventors surprisingly found in an internationally recognised modelfor allergy, that when prebiotic fibres are combined with probioticbacteria (preferably Bifidobacteria) a synergistic effect was present onthe prevention of allergic reactions. This synergistic effect ispotentially very beneficial to the infants, but could also be beneficialto adults.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the allergic response for various compositions tested inaccordance with an internationally recognised mouse vaccine model.

FIG. 2 demonstrates the synergistic effect of TD1 (Bifidobacteriumbreve) and dietary fibers (OS) in a mouse casein allergy model.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment according to the invention comprises the use of acomposition comprising free amino acids as a sole source of protein, afatty acid source comprising long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, acarbohydrate source comprising digestible and indigestiblecarbohydrates, and milk protein free Bifidobacteria for the manufactureof a composition for treating a person suffering from

-   -   a. colic, congestion, runny nose, wheezing, vomiting, diarrhoea,        bloody stools, mucus in stools, rash, eczema, gastroesophageal        reflux, eosinophilic esophagitis or asthma;    -   b. cow's milk allergy and/or food protein intolerance; and/or    -   c. infections,        wherein the indigestible carbohydrate is selected from a milk        protein free source and the total composition is essentially        free of intact proteins.

The term “sole source of protein” as herein means that presentcomposition (preferably) contains at least 99 wt. % amino acids based ontotal protein, preferably at least 99.5, more preferably at least 99.9wt. %.

The invention further provides composition comprising a proteincomponent, a fat component, a digestible carbohydrate component, anon-digestible carbohydrate and bifidobacteria wherein;

-   -   a) the protein component contains more than 99 wt. % free amino        acids based on total protein, and comprising at least the        following free amino acids: alanine, arginine, aspartic acid,        cysteine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine,        methionine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine,        valine and glutamine;    -   b) the digestible carbohydrate component contain less that 2 wt.        % lactose based on total digestible carbohydrate;    -   c) the non-digestible carbohydrate comprises soluble fructan        with an average DP between 2 to 200 and a soluble galacturonic        acid with an average DP between 2 and 200; and    -   d) the fat component comprises between 0.1 and 5 wt % LCPUFA        based on total fatty acid content.

As is shown in FIG. 1, the combination of long chain soluble fructans(LFOS) with an acid oligosaccharide (AOS), which was in this case pectinhydrolysate, work as well as the bifidobacteria when tested in the mousemodel. It is clear however that if the oligosaccharides are combinedwith the Bifidobacteria the effects are strongly improved.

In a preferred embodiment the nutritional composition comprises both thenon digestible fibres and the Bifidobacteria since this compositiongives the best results in the allergic mouse model. (see FIG. 1).Preferably Bifidobacteria breve is used.

Non-Digestible Carbohydrate

Fructans are fructose based neutral oligosaccharides (>50% of the monoseunits are fructose), preferably insulin, fructan and/orfructooligosaccharide, most preferably a mixture of long chainfructooligosaccharide (lcFOS) with an average DP between 10-60 and shortchain fructooligosaccharide (scFOS) with an average DP between 3 and 10.Preferred embodiment comprises a mixture of lcFOS and scFOS in a ratioof 1:9 since this ratio comes closer to the composition ofoligosaccharides in breast milk and has been proven to effectivelystimulate the growth of bifidobacteria in infants.

The present method preferably comprises the administration of a servingcomprising between 0.05 and 25 grams non-digestible saccharide,preferably between 0.1 and 5 grams. The present method preferablycomprises the administration of a serving comprising between 0.05 and 25grams scFOS, preferably between 0.1 and 5 gram scFOS. The present methodpreferably comprises the administration of 0.05 to 25 gramsnon-digestible saccharide per day, preferably between 0.1 and 5 gramsper day.

Pectin Degradation Product

Pectin is divided into two main categories: high methoxylated pectin,which is characterized by a degree of methoxylation above 50% and lowmethoxylated pectin having a degree of methoxylation below 50%. As usedherein, “degree of methoxylation” (also referred to as DE or “degree ofesterification”) is intended to mean the extent to which free carboxylicacid groups contained in the polygalacturonic acid chain have beenesterified (e.g. by methylation). The present pectin is preferablyprepared from high methoxylated pectin.

The pectin is preferably characterized by a degree of methoxylationabove 20%, preferably above 30% even more preferably above 50%.

The pectin as used in the present method has an average degree ofpolymerization (DP) between 2 and 500, preferably between 10 and 250 andmost preferably between 20 and 50. When a mixture of pectin's withdifferent degrees of polymerization is used, the average DP of the acidoligosaccharide mixture is preferably between 3 and 1000, morepreferably between 3 and 250, even more preferably between 3 and 50. Itwas found that a lower DP of the oligosaccharides improves thepalatability and results in a reduced viscosity product if the acidoligosaccharide is administered in liquid form.

The pectin is preferably administered in an amount of between 0.1 and100 gram per day, preferably between 0.4 and 50 grams per day, even morepreferably between 1 and 20 gram per day.

A preferred embodiment comprises fructans and pectin degradationproducts in a ratio 50:50-95: 5. Preferably the ratio is 85:15 sincethis is the ratio of neutral oligosaccharides and acidicoligosaccharides as present in mother's milk.

Probiotic Bacteria

The probiotic bacteria that are suitable for use in the invention shouldpreferably have at least a positive effect in the mouse allergy model asdescribed in the examples below. The probiotics further must beharvested in substantial absence of food allergens. This requiresspecial procedures or culture media without intact proteins for thepreparation of the probiotic bacteria.

Preferred embodiment therefore comprises probiotic bacteria insubstantial absence of intact food proteins or food allergens,specifically in substantial absence of milk proteins.

In a preferred embodiment the probiotic bacteria are bifidobacteria.Even more preferred the probiotic bacterium is Bifidobacterium breve.Bifidobacteria have the strongest tolerance inducing effect in the mousemodels used and are therefore preferred. In particular Bifidobacteriumbreve is highly effective.

In another preferred embodiment the Bifidobacteria are non-viable. Thishas the advantage that the shelf life of the product becomes longer andthat the immune modulatory activity of the bacteria becomes independentof the number of live bifidobacteria. Experiments have shown that immunestimulatory effects of non-viable bacteria is similar and sometimes evenbetter than the activity of live bifidobacteria.

The present composition preferably comprises 10² to 10¹³ colony formingunits (cfu) of bifidobacteria per gram dry weight of the presentcomposition, preferably 10² to 10¹² cfu, more preferably 10⁵ to 10¹⁰cfu, most preferably from 10⁴ to 5x10⁹ cfu.

Amino Acids

Amino acids can be used in nutritional formula for babies and infants.However, the composition of the amino acids in the formula preferablycomprises all essential amino acids except for patients withphenylketonuria (PKU) and non-PKU inborn errors of metabolism, and ispreferably optimal for baby food or infant nutrition. The inventors thanfound that the most optimal amino acid composition should be as close aspossible to the amino acid composition of the protein fraction ofmothers' milk. This results in a preferred amino acid composition asdepicted in table 1 (see infra).

In a preferred embodiment the composition comprises less than 1 wt. %peptides based on total protein and more than 99 wt. % free amino acidsbased on total protein, comprising at least the following free aminoacids: alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glycine, histidine,isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, proline, serine, threonine,tryptophan, tyrosine, valine and glutamine;

Formula

Formula according to the invention comprise free amino acids as nitrogensource, fat including a fat blend comprising LCPUFA and carbohydrates.Vitamins and minerals are added according to legislation requirements.

The present composition preferably provides nutrition to the infant, andcomprises a lipid component, a protein component and a carbohydratecomponent. The lipid component preferably provides 5 to 50% of the totalcalories, the protein component preferably provides 5 to 50% of thetotal calories, and the carbohydrate component preferably provides 15 to90% of the total calories. The present composition is preferably used asan infant formula, wherein the lipid component provides 35 to 50% of thetotal calories, the protein component provides 7.5 to 12.5% of the totalcalories, and the carbohydrate component provides 40 to 55% of the totalcalories. For calculation of the % of total calories for the proteincomponent, the total of energy provided by the amino acids needs to betaken.

LCPUFA

The content of LC-PUFA with 20 and 22 carbon atoms in the presentcomposition, preferably does not exceed 15 wt. % of the total fatcontent, preferably does not exceed 10 wt. %, even more preferably doesnot exceed 5 wt. % of the total fat content. Preferably the presentcomposition comprises at least 0.1 wt. %, preferably at least 0.25 wt,more preferably at least 0.5 wt. %, even more preferably at least 0.75wt. % LC-PUFA with 20 and 22 carbon atoms of the total fat content. TheDocosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content preferably does not exceed 5 wt. %,more preferably does not exceed 1 wt. %, but is at least 0.1 wt % of thetotal fat. As arachidonic acid (AA) was found to be particularlyeffective in reducing tight junction permeability, the presentcomposition comprises relatively high amounts, preferably at least 0.1wt. %, even more preferably at least 0.25 wt. %, most preferably atleast 0.5 wt. % of the total fat. The AA content preferably does notexceed 5 wt. %, more preferably does not exceed 1 wt. % of the totalfat. Excess metabolites from AA may cause inflammation. Hence, thepresent composition preferably comprises AA and DHA, wherein the weightratio AA/DHA preferably is above 0.25, preferably above 0.5, even morepreferably above 1. The ratio is preferably below 25.

The LC-PUFAs are preferably non-fish derived single cell oils, e.g.available from Martek.

Preferred features for compositions in accordance with the invention areset out in Tables 1-3.

TABLE 1 Amino acid content of composition according to the invention AAcontent aspercentage of total AA Range (g/100 g) Infant 1-10 Amino AcidUnits Infant 0-1 year year Ala gm 3.95 4.01 3.12 3.03 Arg gm 6.99 7.0214.24 13.91 Asp gm 6.54 6.57 5.73 5.59 Cys gm 2.59 2.58 1.85 2.91 Gluacid gm 0.00 0.00 0.00 Gly gm 6.15 6.12 5.11 5.01 His gm 4.02 3.99 3.713.61 Iso gm 6.15 6.12 5.11 5.01 Leu gm 10.56 10.51 8.54 8.32 Lys gm 7.197.19 6.25 6.11 Meth gm 1.68 1.69 4.02 3.90 Phe gm 7.51 7.47 7.10 6.93Pro gm 4.73 4.72 5.97 5.82 Ser gm 4.60 4.61 3.71 3.61 thr gm 5.18 5.174.29 4.19 Try gm 2.07 2.08 1.72 1.69 tyr gm 4.73 4.72 1.44 1.40 Val gm6.74 6.74 5.42 5.30 Car gm 0.06 0.06 0.10 0.12 tau gm 0.19 0.20 0.170.17 Glu gm 8.42 8.43 12.35 13.39 total gm 100 100 99.97 100

TABLE 2 Nutritional infant formula for allergic infants NutritionalProfile of formula for infants according to the invention (powder) UnitsLevel/100 g Level/100 kcal Protein Equivalent gm 13 2.9 Energy kcals 455100 Nitrogen gm 2.1 Carbohydrate gm 49 10.8 Fat (total) gm 23 5.1 (MCT)% 33 (LCT) % 67

TABLE 3 Ranges in Long Chain Polyunsaturated (LCP) fattyacid composition% Fatty acids Preferred Range +/−25% Arachidonic acid 0.35 0.26 0.44Docosahexanoic 0.20 0.15 0.25 acid Total LCP 0.55 0.41 0.69

The preferred ranges in the oligosaccharide composition are 0.4-1.2g/100 ml wherein 85 w % is scFOS and lcFOS and 15 w % is pectinhydrolysate. Preferably the ratio scFOS to lcFOS is between 2 and 20even more preferably the ratio is 9.

One preferred embodiment of milk protein and allergen free,nutritionally complete powdered formulation in accordance with theinvention which is suitable for dilution with water to form an enteralfeed comprises:

Component Per 100 g Powder Protein equivalent (g) 13 Total amino acids(g) 15.5 Total fat (g) 23 Sunflower oil (g) 4 Fractionated coconut oil(g) 7 Canola oil (g) 4 High oleic sunflower oil (g) 6.6 ARASCO ™ oil (g)0.21 DHASCO ™ oil (g) 0.11 Carbohydrate: Maltodextrin (g) 49 Prebiotic(g) 5.33 ScFOS (g) 4.1 lcFOS (g) 0.43 AOS (g) 0.8 Probiotic: B Breve(colony forming units; CFU) 1 × 10¹⁰ Other vitamins/minerals/traceelements Balance

The above formulation provides approximately 455 kcal of energy per 100g powder.

The formulation may be diluted with cooled, boiled water to provide arecommended concentration of 15% w/v.

Uses

Preferable the composition is used for treating an infant (particularlywith an atopic constitution) suffering from

-   -   a. colic, congestion, runny nose, wheezing, vomiting, diarrhoea,        bloody stools, mucus in stools, rash, eczema, gastroesophageal        reflux, eosinophilic esophagitis or asthma;    -   b. cow's milk allergy and/or food protein intolerance; and/or    -   c. infections

The composition can also preferably be used to improve the stoolcharacteristics of infants suffering from the above mentioned symptoms.The composition is specifically designed for infants between 0- and 3years. With some adaptations in the amino acid profile (see table 1) thecomposition is also suitable for infants between 3 and 10 years old.Allergic infants often suffer from diarrhoea but constipation alsooccurs. A preferred composition can be used to prevent and treat thesesymptoms comprises fibres according to the composition of mothers milk,wherein the ratio scFOS/lcFOS is 9:1 and additionally pectin hydrolysateis present.

EXAMPLES

In order to determine the immune stimulating effects of oligosaccharidesand probiotic Bifidobacterium breve (TD1) tests were performed in aninternationally recognized mouse vaccine model (FIG. 1) and in anallergy model (FIG. 2).

Materials and Method of the Vaccine Model

Mice

Female 6- and 8-week old C57BI/6JOlaHsd mice were obtained from Harlan(Horst, the Netherlands) and kept under normal conditions with a 12 hdark and light cycle and free access to food and water. All experimentswere approved by an independent animal experiments committee (DECConsult, Bilthoven, The Netherlands).

Diets and Oligosaccharide Preparations

All animals received semi-purified AIN-93G-based diets (Research DietServices, Wijk bij Duurstede, The Netherlands). All supplementedoligosaccharide, products were exchanged for the same amount of totalcarbohydrates, to keep this parameter equal. In addition, this approachresulted in a comparable overall carbohydrate composition in differentdiets, to ensure that the gut flora was minimally influenced bydifferences between control and test diets in parameters such as gutpassage time and fluid retention. The oligosaccharides were mixed intothe AIN-93G diet and pressed into pellets.

Vaccination Protocol and DTH Response

Vaccination experiments were performed using Influvac (SolvayPharmaceuticals, Weesp, the Netherlands) from season 2002/2003. It is aninactivated influenza virus vaccine based on isolated haemagglutinin(HA) and neuraminidase antigens of three strains of myxovirus influenza,in a dose equivalent to 30 μg/mL HA per strain (90 μg/mL, HA in total).An oil-adjuvant was used in all vaccinations (Stimune, previously knownas Specol; Cedi-diagnostics, Lelystad, The Netherlands). The micereceived a primary vaccination and a booster vaccination, consisting ofa subcutaneous (sc) injection of a 1:1 mix of vaccine and adjuvant in atotal volume of 100 μL. The booster vaccination was given 21 days afterthe primary vaccination. The experiments ended 10 days after boostervaccination. Blood samples (taken by retro-orbital puncture) were takenbefore primary and secondary vaccination and at the end of theexperiment. Negative control groups that were included in allexperiments (indicated with ‘sham group’) received injections with a 1.1mix of PBS and adjuvant in a total volume of 100 μL. Sham groups werenever used for statistical comparisons to supplemented groups, butserved solely to demonstrate the specificity of vaccine-inducedresponses. DTH reactions were induced 9 days after booster vaccination,by sc injection of 25 μL Influvac into the ear pinnae of both ears. Earthickness was measured in duplicate before vaccine challenge and 24 hthereafter, using a digital micrometer (Mitutoyo Digimatic 293561,Veenendaal, The Netherlands). The DTH response was calculated bysubtracting the basal ear thickness from the value at 24 h afterchallenge.

Material and Methods of the Cows Milk Protein Allergy Model

Chemicals

Casein and whey are obtained from DMV international, Veghel, TheNetherlands. Cholera toxin is purchased from Quadratech Diagnostics,Epsom, UK. PBS is purchased from Cambrex Bio Science, Verviers, Belgium.Elisa coating buffer is obtained from Sigma, Alphen aan den Rijn, TheNetherlands. Biotin labeled rat anti mouse IgE is purchased from BDBiosciences, Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands. All other chemicalsare obtained from Sigma-Aldrich-Chemie, Zwijndrecht, The Netherlands.

Oral Sensitization and Challenge of Mice

Three- to 5-week-old specific pathogen free female C3H/HeOuJ mice (n=4-6per group) were purchased from Charles River Laboratories (Maastricht,the Netherlands), maintained on cow's milk protein free mouse chow(Special Diets Services, Witham, Essex, UK) and housed in the animalfacility at Utrecht University. Animal care and use were performed inaccordance with the guidelines of the Dutch Committee of AnimalExperiments. Mice were intra gastric (i.g.) sensitized with 0.5 mLhomogenized casein (40 mg/mL PBS) with cholera toxin (CT, 20 μL/mL PBS)as an adjuvant using a blunt needle. Control mice received CT alone orPBS. Mice were boosted weekly for a period of 6 weeks, one week afterthe last sensitization mice were challenged i.g. with 100 mg casein.

Blood samples were collected and centrifuged thereafter (15 min. at13500 rpm.). Sera were stored at −70° C. Mice were sacrificed bycervical dislocation half an hour after i.g. challenge.

Allergen Specific Skin Response

The acute allergen specific skin response was measured after injectionof the specific protein in the ear pinnae. Before i.g. challenge (t=0),the control, casein sensitized mice were injected intra dermal (i.d.) inthe left ear with 20 μL homogenized casein (0.5 mg/mL in PBS)respectively. In the right ear 20 μL PBS was injected as a vehiclecontrol. Also the CT and PBS mice received a casein ear challenge usingPBS injections as control. Ear thickness was measured in duplicate usinga digital micrometer (Mitutoyo, Veenendaal, The Netherlands), at 0, 1, 4and 24 hour after challenge. The allergen specific ear swelling wascalculated by subtracting the basal (0 h) and the control (right ear)thickness from the value measured at the three different time points (1,4 and 24 h).

Measurement of Serum Immunoglobulin and Mouse Mast Cell Protease-1Levels

Concentrations of total IgE and levels casein or whey specific IgE, IgG1and IgG2a were determined in serum of sacrificed mice by means of ELISA.Microlon plates (Greiner, Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands) werecoated with casein in coating buffer or rat anti-mouse IgE (1 μg/mL) inPBS for 18 hours at 4° C. Plates were washed and blocked for 1 hour with5% BSA. Serum samples were applied in several dilutions and incubatedfor 2 hours at room temperature. Plates were washed 5 times andincubated with 1 μg biotin labeled rat anti mouse IgE for one and a halfhour at room temperature. After washing plates were incubated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for one hour, washed and developed witho-phenylendiamine (OPD). The reaction was stopped with 4M H₂SO₄ andabsorbance was measured at 490 nm on a Benchmark microplate reader(Biorad, California, USA). Serum concentrations of mouse mast cellprotease-1 (mMCP-1) were determined as described previously using acommercially available ELISA kit (Moredun Scientific Ltd., Midlothian,UK).

The results of the mouse vaccine model are shown in FIG. 1 from which itis clear that the combination of TD1 (=Bifidobacterium breve) providesthe strongest effect on DTH response and is significantly better thanTD1 alone or any other combination tested.

The results of the mouse casein allergy model are shown in FIG. 2 anddemonstrates that the combination of dietary fiber and TD1synergistically inhibits the “allergenic” DTH response to casein.

1. A composition comprising a protein component, a fat component, adigestible carbohydrate component, a non-digestible carbohydrate andBifidobacteria wherein; (a) the protein component contains more than 99wt. % free amino acids based on total protein, and comprising at leastthe following free amino acids: alanine, arginine, aspartic acid,cysteine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine,proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine and glutamine;(b) the digestible carbohydrate component contain less than 2 wt %lactose based on total digestible carbohydrate; (c) the non-digestiblecarbohydrate comprises soluble fructan with an average DP between 2 to200; and (d) the fat component comprises between 0.1 wt % and 5 wt %LCPUFA based on total fatty acid content.
 2. A composition according toclaim 1 wherein the fat component comprises between 0.2 wt % and 1 wt %LCPUFA based on the total fatty acid content.
 3. A composition accordingto claim 1, further comprising a non-digestible, soluble galacturonicacid with an average DP between 2 and
 200. 4. A composition according toclaim 1, comprising Bifidobacterium breve.
 5. A composition according toclaim 1, comprising arachidonic acid and/or docosahexaenoic acid.
 6. Acomposition according to claim 1, wherein the non-digestiblecarbohydrate consists of long chain FOS and short chain FOS.
 7. Acomposition according to claim 6 wherein the long chain FOS has anaverage DP between 10-60 and the short chain FOS has an average DPbetween 3 and
 10. 8. A composition according to claim 1 wherein theproduct is a powder or a liquid.
 9. A milk protein-free compositioncomprising: (a) a protein-free portion consisting of: (i) free aminoacids as the sole source of amino acids in the protein-free portion,wherein the free amino acids comprise at least alanine, arginine,aspartic acid, cysteine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine,lysine, methionine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine,valine, and glutamine, (ii) fatty acids comprising long-chainpolyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), (iii) digestible carbohydrates,and (iv) indigestible carbohydrates obtained from a milk protein-freesource; and (b) Bifidobacteria obtained from a milk-protein-freeculture; wherein the milk protein-free composition is free of proteinfragments of milk, and other than (b) is essentially free of intactproteins.
 10. A composition according to claim 9 wherein the fatcomponent comprises between 0.2 wt % and 1 wt % LCPUFA based on thetotal fatty acid content.
 11. A composition according to claim 9,further comprising indigestible, soluble fructan with an average DPbetween 2 to
 200. 12. A composition according to claim 11, furthercomprising an indigestible, soluble galacturonic acid with an average DPbetween 2 and
 200. 13. A composition according to claim 9, comprisingBifidobacterium breve.
 14. A composition according to claim 9,comprising arachidonic acid and/or docosahexaenoic acid.
 15. Acomposition according to claim 9, wherein the indigestible carbohydrateconsists of long chain FOS and short chain FOS.
 16. A compositionaccording to claim 15 wherein the long chain FOS has an average DPbetween 10-60 and the short chain FOS has an average DP between 3 and10.
 17. A composition according to claim 9 wherein the product is apowder or a liquid.